Laurer wasn't afraid to "blaze her own trail and create a path for those who would follow," Triple H, whose real name is Paul Levesque, said on Twitter. "A pioneer whose star shined bright. (hash)RIPChyna."

Laurer was a native of Rochester, New York, and graduated from the University of Tampa in Florida in 1992 before taking up wrestling after a series of different jobs. She was born Dec. 27, 1969, and online biographies that listed her age as 45 were incorrect, her manager told NBC.

"A physically striking and talented performer, Chyna was a true sports-entertainment pioneer. Not only was the Superstar dubbed 'The Ninth Wonder of the World' a founding member of the groundbreaking faction D-Generation X, but she also holds the distinction of being the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble Match and the first and only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship," the statement said.